Metering dispenser

ABSTRACT

A metering dispenser for flowable materials is provided having a reservoir defined in part by a pair of opposing, flexible side walls. The side walls are associated with at least one stop. The stop is structured to permit the side walls of the dispenser to be squeezed together for only a predetermined distance, so that a predetermined volume of flowable material is dispensed from the dispenser.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of provisional application Ser. No. 60/604,054, filed Feb. 28, 2007.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to metering dispensers for flowable materials. More specifically, the dispenser includes means for controlling the amount of material dispensed in a single dose.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

It is often desirable for liquids and other flowable materials to be dispensed in measured quantities. For the purpose of this description, a flowable material is defined as any material that flows in response to gravity or pressure, and includes liquid, gel, slurry, paste, powder, granular material and the like, regardless of its viscosity.

Most dispensers for flowable materials do not include means of dispensing a measured amount of material. It is therefore required to dispense the material into a measurement device and then dispense the material a second time from the measurement device to the desired application. Alternatively, the control is based on the user's observation. Dispensing is stopped when it appears to the user that the appropriate quantity has been discharged.

Mechanical dispensers, such as sprays and pumps, may provide a consistent dose of material. However, these devices often do not allow for dispensing particulates or highly viscous materials.

SUMMARY

A dispenser is defined by a flexible housing for retaining a quantity of a flowable material and includes a pair of opposed walls. The walls are associated with a stop. The stop is structured so that, when the walls are pushed inward, the interaction of the walls and the stop resists further inward movement and thus, limits the dose of material expelled from the dispenser.

A method of dispensing flowable material is also provided. The method steps include providing a dispenser having first and second opposing walls and a stop. The dispenser is filled with a flowable material to be dispensed. The first and second walls are squeezed towards one another, forcing flowable material to dispense from a nozzle or the like. The walls engage the stop and are no longer capable of being squeezed together. The stop is structured to permit the walls to move only a predetermined distance towards one another, so that a predetermined volume of material is dispensed each time from the dispenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a metering dispenser of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser, taken along the lines 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 3, showing the side walls pushed together and in engagement with the stop.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a metering dispenser of the present application.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the metering dispenser of FIG. 5, showing the sides pushed inward to engage the stop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawings, where like numerals identify like elements, there is shown a metering dispenser which is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The dispenser 10 as shown in FIG. 1 includes a first wall 12 and an opposing second wall 14 (see FIG. 2). The opposing walls 12, 14 are connected by a bottom 16, a top 18, and a pair of sides 20, 22.

The dispenser 10 includes at least one stop structured to limit the extent to which the first wall 12 and/or second wall 14 may be moved upon squeezing the two walls 12, 14 toward one another. In the illustrated example, the stop is defined by a pair of stop extensions 24 defined on the first wall 12 and a pair of stop extensions 26 defined on the second wall 14. The stop extensions 24, 26 are concave indentations in the surfaces of the first and second walls 12, 14. As the term is used herein, a concave indentation is one that extends inward into the interior of the dispenser from the surrounding wall surface and, as illustrated, form cavities on the outside surface of the dispenser walls. The indentation is considered concave, regardless of whether the surface includes any curvature. The opposing stop extensions 24, 26 are separated within the interior of the dispenser 10 by a stop distance D, as identified in FIG. 2. It should be understood that the stop may take other forms, including a single concave extension projecting inwardly from only one side wall or be some other inward extension structure.

The bottom 16 of the dispenser 10 includes a dispensing opening 28 therein. The dispensing opening 28 includes a check valve 30 secured therein. The valve 30 is structured to resist the flow of material until a predetermined pressure is reached inside the dispenser 10. The flowable material preferably does not move through the opening 28 under the force of gravity alone, but only in response to an increase in pressure within the reservoir defined by dispenser 10. A sealing cap or plug 38 (FIGS. 3 and 4) may be included to assist in closing the valve 30 when the dispenser 10 is not in use.

As illustrated, the dispenser 10 includes an air inlet 32 defined within the bottom 16 or in a similar location. An air tube 34 extends upward from the air inlet 32, terminating near the top 18. A valve 36 is disposed at the top of the air tube 34 to resist the flow of material into the tube 34. The valve 36 also closes the air tube 34 during dispensing so as to pressurize the flowable material inside the dispenser 10 and force it through opening 28. The cap 38 may also be used to close the opening 32.

The operation of the dispenser 10 may be best understood with reference to FIGS. 3-4. When not in use, the dispenser 10 appears as shown in FIG. 3. The dispenser 10 is filled with a quantity flowable material. The bottom 16 of the illustrated dispenser 10 is flat and the top 18 is convex, to encourage a user to store the dispenser 16 on its bottom surface 16. Storing the dispenser 10 in this manner ensures that the flowable material remains against the opening 28 and/or check valve 30.

Referring to FIG. 4, when dispensing is desired, a user removes the cap 38 and then applies a force F to the walls 12, 14, squeezing them together. The stop extensions 24, 26 move a combined distance D, towards each other. The stop distance D is predetermined so that, when the walls 12, 14 are squeezed from the configuration of FIG. 3 to the configuration of FIG. 4, the volume within the dispenser 10 is reduced by an amount corresponding to the desired dose or quantity of material to be dispensed. A signal—such as an audible noise—may be activated once the walls 12, 14 have been squeezed to their maximum extent or the distance D. Once the walls 12, 14 arc released, they return to their position of FIG. 3, increasing the volume within the dispenser 10, and drawing air into the dispenser 10 through the opening 32 and tube 34, and past the check valve 36.

Referring to FIGS. 5-6, an alternative metering dispenser 10′ is illustrated. The dispenser 10′ includes a first wall 12′ and an opposing second wall 14′. The opposing walls 12′, 14′ are connected by a bottom 16′, a top 18′ and a pair of sides (one side 20′ being shown). As illustrated, the bottom 16′ is substantially flat, while the top 18′ is convex. Other shapes and configurations may be used without departing from the contemplated invention.

The dispenser 10′ includes stop means structured to limit the extent to which the first wall 12′ and second wall 14′ may be pushed towards each other. In this embodiment, a stop 24′ in the form of a rod extends from the top 18′ to the bottom 16′ of the dispenser interior, adjacent to the wall 12′. A second stop rod 28′ extends from the top 18′ to the bottom 16′, adjacent the opposing wall 14′. The stop rods 24′, 26′ are separated by a distance R, which defines the space remaining between the walls 12′, 14′ after they have been pushed towards each other for a combined total stop distance D′.

The bottom 16′ includes a dispensing opening 28′ with a check valve 30′ secured therein. The check valve 30′ is structured to resist a flow of flowable material therethrough until a predetermined pressure is reached inside the dispenser 10′. The dispenser 10′ also includes an air inlet 32′ within the bottom 16′. An air tube 34′ extends upward from the air inlet 32′, terminating near the top 18′. A check valve 36′ is disposed on the air tube 34′ to resist the flow of material into the tube 34′ and to close the vent during squeezing of the dispenser 10. A cap 38′ may be provided to close the openings 28′, 32′ when the dispenser 10′ is not in use. 100241 To dispense material from the dispenser 10′, the cap 38′ is removed. The walls 12′, 14′ are squeezed together until they contact the stop rods 24′, 26′. The distance that the walls 12′, 14′ will move before contacting the stop is the total of D₁ and D₂ and is predetermined so that the volume within the dispenser 10′ will be reduced by an amount equal to the desired dose of material to be dispensed. The increased pressure within the dispenser 10′ upon movement of the wall pushes the material through the check valve 30′ and opening 28′. Again, a signal may be provided upon the walls 12′, 14′ contacting the stop rods 24′, 26′. Upon release, the walls 12′, 14′ return to the position of FIG. 5, increasing the volume within the dispenser 10′, and drawing air into the dispenser through the opening 32′, tube 34′ and check valve 36′.

A metering dispenser is therefore provided including one or more structures that form a stop for limiting the extent to which the opposing side walls may be squeezed together. The distance that the side walls may be moved is fixed and results is a generally consistent maximum discharge of material being dispensed. However, the dispenser may dispense a smaller dose, that is less than the fixed volume, if a user chooses to discontinue squeezing the walls prior to their contact with the stop.

A variety of modifications to the embodiments described will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure provided herein. Thus, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention. 

1. A metering dispenser for storing and dispensing a flowable material, the dispenser comprising: a first wall, a second wall, a first stop associated with the first wall and projecting into the dispenser, the first stop structured to abut the second wall upon the first wall and second wall being moved a predetermined distance towards each other, and a dispensing opening for discharge of flowable material from the dispenser upon movement of the first and second walls.
 2. The metering dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing opening is defined within a bottom portion of the dispenser.
 3. The metering dispenser according to claim 2, further comprising a check valve within the dispensing opening to resist passage of material therethrough until a predetermined pressure is reached within the dispenser.
 4. The metering dispenser according to claim 2, further comprising a convex top portion.
 5. The metering dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising an air passageway for drawing air into the dispenser.
 6. The metering dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the air passageway comprises a check valve structured to resist the passage of material into the passageway.
 7. The metering dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the air passageway comprises a tube extending from an air inlet defined within the bottom to a position adjacent to a top of the dispenser.
 8. The metering dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the second wall further comprises a second stop projecting into the dispenser from the second wall and structured to engage the first stop.
 9. The metering dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the first stop is a concave portion on the first wall and the second stop is a concave section on the second wall.
 10. The metering dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a signaling device structured to signal a user that the first and second walls of the dispenser have been squeezed a predetermined distance towards one another.
 11. A metering dispenser for a flowable material, comprising: a housing, having a first wall and an opposing second wall, a dispensing opening defined within the housing, and a stop defined within the housing, the stop structured to abut at least one of the first and second walls when the first wall and the second wall are moved towards one another by a predetermined distance.
 12. The metering dispenser according to claim 11, further comprising a check valve within the dispensing opening, the check valve structured to resist passage of liquid therethrough due to gravity, and to permit material to flow therethrough upon pressure within the dispenser exceeding a predetermined pressure.
 13. The metering dispenser according to claim 11, further comprising an air passageway into the dispenser.
 14. The metering dispenser according to claim 13, wherein the air passageway comprises a check valve structured to resist the passage of flowable material therethrough upon pressure within the dispenser rising to a predetermined level.
 15. The metering dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the stop comprises a first stop and a second stop, the first stop comprising a concave portion on the first wall, and the second stop comprising a concave portion on the second wall.
 16. The metering dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the stop comprises a rod extending from a top to a bottom of the dispenser, the rod being structured to abut at least one of the first wall and the second wall upon the first wall or second wall moving a predetermined distance.
 17. The metering dispenser according to claim 11, further comprising a signaling device structured to signal a user that the first and second walls of the dispenser have been squeezed a predetermined distance towards each other.
 18. A method of dispensing flowable material, comprising: providing a dispenser, the dispenser having a defined volume, the volume defined by a first wall and a spaced apart second wall; providing a first stop inside the dispenser, the first stop being structured to abut the first or second wall upon one or both the first and second walls being moved a predetermined distance towards each other; providing an opening defined within the dispenser; providing a flowable material within the dispenser; and squeezing the first side and second side towards each other until the first stop abuts the first or second wall, thereby decreasing the volume of the dispenser by a predetermined amount and dispensing a predetermined quantity of flowable material.
 19. A method of dispensing as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of providing a second stop defined as part of the second wall and structured to engage the first stop. 